It feels like forever since I last posted. I wanted to throw out it out there, Van Life is the best life. We have had quite a ride these past few months. But the best ride is always in the van. Van trips the past few months have ventured us into the redwoods, to the ocean, atop the snow-covered mountains. Truly, van life is the best life.
Van Life Adventures To Familiar Places
Which is why right after we decided to buy a home, the first thing we did within days was hop in the van for some more adventure. We just had to get back to Van Life. Where did we go first? Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Then the Lake Tahoe Sno-Parks, then Half Moon Bay State Beach. All familiar and loved places.
(An update, we bought and sold that home in Oregon, and built a tiny home in the State of Jefferson, and have a home base rental in Utah now, and 3 years later, van life is still the best life, always).
Van Life Comes in All Different Forms
A quick note: we have had two huge transitions in 2020. One, we now have a home base. Two, we are now ‘home schooling’ or better put, ‘van schooling’ our kiddos.
Yes, we threw in the towel on full-time tiny living after nearly 2 years. We needed a home base. However, we will always live our van home, our “vome,” as my little one coined it, for a few months out of the year. Because, van life is freedom. (Plus, it’s far superior to hauling a camper).
Van Life Blues in the Rogue Valley
So why did we get a home base in Ashland, Oregon? A few huge reasons. One, we just couldn’t move anymore. From campsite to campsite. From Emigrant Lake RV Park to Valley of the Rogue State Park. As beautiful as they were. But we are all barely surviving Sprinterdad’s residency at this point. Jumping from California to Oregon and back, and then work a ER shift with no sleep was no longer sane. We moved every 14 days because of the camping time limit. It had to end.
The Rogue Valley is simply unforgiving to families with German Shepards. Let me explain. Every single full-time RV Park in the entire Rogue Valley said a big “no” to us for long term parking. Didn’t matter. No love for dogs here. Not even a chance to meet her, she’s so sweet and 65 pounds. The common explanation we got was “too many big dogs already.”
Don’t get me wrong, the Rogue Valley (a PNW version of Napa Valley) does want you to come here with your big dog, as a tourist. Tourism is the bread and butter here. I highly recommend at least a one time trip to the Rogue Valley: beautiful scenery, amazing wineries, good restaurants, just a few hours from the Oregon Coast.
A must mention, what RV park to avoid. Previously Glenyan RV (now trying to rebrand itself as Ashland’s Creekside RV). Simply put, Ashland’s Creekside RV is a crime-ridden dump. There is always a bright side to bad experiences though. The hidden gem: just a few minutes down the road from this dump is the absolute best RV park in the entire Rogue Valley, Emigrant Lake RV Park. Peaceful, clean, beautiful views right on the lake. Go there instead!
Van Life Part Time, Full Time, and Everything In the Middle
The most fitting quote of this period is from Laura Ingalls Wilder, as we were finishing the Little House on the Prairie book series. It’s 19th century versus 21st century adventures, but a lot of the same human experience. “Maybe everything comes out all right, if you keep on trying. Anyway, you have to keep on trying; nothing will come out right if you don’t” – Laura Ingalls Wilder.
What is the first thing we did upon off-loading all our stuff, and pets, into our new home base in Ashland, Oregon? Van ski trip, of course! Because who needs to unpack boxes when there is an open road to find some adventure, and powder? Let’s just say ski lodge on wheels. Where we can pull up to any beautiful Sno-Park in Tahoe, any resort, and we are always home.
We survive Sprinterdad’s residency by taking the family to him, and his lonely vanlife in the Bay. At the hospital, the van is no longer an adventure van and transforms to an affordable Stanford parking lot apartment. Along with all the other vomes in the Stanford parking lot. The whole family lives in the vome in California. The Stanford parking lot is not my favorite place to sleep, but it works. That’s our new normal, for now.
Van Life is the Best Life, but Life is Life
Honestly, I miss full time living. It is efficient. There is so much wasted space in a home. But the biggest lesson we have learnt, is living is living. Whether living big, small, or medium. And it’s all good. And we are grateful for all the people we have met along the way. However, some members of the family do not miss tiny living at all, particularly our beloved cats. I may be biased, but Van Life has and always will be the best life. It’s freedom. It’s the very most home.
